While most of us are still trying to adjust ourselves with the stay-at-home order, not much has changed in the life of Brian Cotter’s family. His 10-month-old daughter, Ruby June Cotter has not seen life outside her house since receiving a heart transplant, last Christmas. But the good news is, though in quarantine, this baby is happy and growing stronger with each passing day.
Speaking to Patch on how the COVID-19 restrictions have impacted their family, Cotter from Wading River said, “We have been hunkered down like everyone else, but it really was not much of a change for us. Ruby's immune system is still very weak. She is doing well, so we don't go to the city as much to keep the risk of exposure down. She recently had her monthly biopsy, and the results were great."
Every other week, Ruby needs to be taken to New York for her blood checks and to make sure that her medications are still working correctly. Her father added, “She is growing fast, so adjustments are normal. Even without going to her physical and occupational therapy appointments and her speech and swallow appointments, she is still making improvements."
Ruby is growing up – she is learning to crawl, trying out many of the adult foods, and she already has one tooth with another one coming out. Her parents happily said that their little girl is learning to say ‘Mama’ and ‘Dada’ along with various other sounds. Ruby's playful nature keeps the entire family alive!
Coronavirus has proved to be pretty critical, and those with existing ailments are more vulnerable to it. This father understands the same, and he knows that they need to be extra careful with their daughter, who's an infant with a recent heart transplant. However, awareness among people in their town brings solace to them.
Ruby, who had been on isolation for months, had just started exploring. She had just begun to know her grandparents, but the novel virus interrupted everything. Since her grandparents are working, they once again can't meet her. Ruby's parents have been maintaining social distance for long, and so they can clearly understand how hard it is. Having said that, they also feel that it's required for the well-being of people, particularly those with health problems.
A GoFund Me page, "Ruby June Cotter," created by Angela Albergo Houlihan, already raised more than $113,000 so far, but the challenge isn’t over yet. Ruby has a lifelong battle to fight. Her risk of getting skin cancer is high, and she will have to be extra vigilant about hygiene and health. And she also might need anther heart in the future.
Corter and his wife are grateful to people from all over the country for their blessings and generosity. "In our souls, we are good. People come together and rally when someone is in need, and it's beautiful,” he said.
Source: Patch